This is NOT a political message! However, it is a comment on things that have happened this past week and what I believe is their relation to the coming of the Lord. First, I know that the United States of America does not in any way represent the whole world. However, I believe that we can get an idea of what is going on in the world by looking at our own nation. It is interesting that almost 250 years ago we fought a revolutionary war in order to be separate and apart from those European nations that were governed by a king and had a state religion. Many fought for that very reason - to be allowed to worship God - not as the king or some pope told them but according to the dictates of their consciences which were being led by the Holy Spirit. Yet, today we have many, and way too many, who are willing to give up that liberty that was purchased by the blood patriots just for the sake of what they call “peace.” But “peace” that is purchased by the loss of liberty is not real peace. Over the years, and in the past few months we have seen things happen in America that I, being naive as I am, never thought I would see in this God blessed land. We have seen the total denial of God by a nation that was established by His providence. We deny His Word to school children so we can give it to them in prison. We don’t want His Ten Commandments hanging in the classroom or the courtroom, and yet we decry the increase in crime and wonder why so many young people seem to be turning to that life. (It almost seems a “badge of honor” among some to have a criminal record today.) And we regularly permit the wholesale slaughter of little babies by the abortionist’s hand. In many cases churches are no better. Many see “the church” as a social organization. It is not! A church of the Lord Jesus Christ was purchased by His blood, through His suffering and should exist to glorify Him. Many believe the church is to grow through programs and parties, but remember: In John 12:32 Jesus said, “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.” Acts 2:47 says, “And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.” (I want to pastor a church that the Lord adds to, not one that man adds to.) Many see the Lord’s church as a place to “have fun” in the sense that the world “has fun.” Coming to church should delight us so that we look forward to it, but we do not come just to “play” as a child would play with his toys. Church is a place where we come to worship God and to study His Word and learn more about Him. (And if anyone believes they know all there is to know about the Bible, about God, and about His worship, they haven’t learned anything yet.) There are those, also, who want the Lord’s church to be like every other “church” in town. We are different! And we are to be different. We have a different origin, a different Head, a different organization, and a different purpose in this world. Remember Israel from I Samuel 8:5 when they wanted to be like everybody else and said to Samuel, “now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.” There is danger in wanting to be like everybody else. (Listen to that young people.) And now, this past week, we have seen where this devolution in America is leading. We have seen a man executed by a sniper’s bullet because he dared to speak publicly and often for the godly principles of the Bible. Remember what Jesus told His disciples in the 15th and 16th chapters of John. John 15:18-21: “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. (19) If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. (20) Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. (21) But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me.” John 16:2-3: “They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. (3) And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.” Our text declares that society is not going to “evolve,” but “devolve” -- “But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.” This is what I call the natural progression of degeneration.